Who's That Girl?

This week we're looking at mysteries and thrillers with some less than trustworthy women. We know we can't trust them - they're hiding their faces! Does this mean they're lying? Let's find out.

An Anonymous Girl

Release Date: January 8, 2019

Quick Synopsis: Jess enjoys her job as a makeup artist in New York City but it isn’t the most

lucrative career. When she overhears a client discussing plans to bail on a paid psychological study,

Jess steps in to fill the spot. At first, Jess finds the questions in the study to be incredibly personal and

invasive. But, as she begins to work more closely with the study’s creator, Dr. Lydia Shields, she

starts to lose her inhibitions. As she falls deeper into the work, it becomes harder to tell what’s real

and what’s been manufactured as part of the study. And maybe Dr. Shields wasn’t as trustworthy

as Jess first thought...

My Thoughts: This is the follow-up to Hendricks and Pekkanen’s hugely successful novel

The Wife Between Us, which was excellent. While I don’t think this one packs as much of a punch,

I did really enjoy the reading experience. The alternating perspectives are fun, keeping you on the

edge of your seat as you race to see who ultimately comes out on top. Sure, it’s not super realistic,

but that's par for the course when it comes to psychological thrillers. 4.5/5

Bonus: This book is a new release but it’s already been optioned for a TV series.

Definitely something to keep an eye out for! I think it might be a story more suited for TV in the end.

If Nicole Kidman needs another project, she should pick up this book.

Two Can Keep A Secret

Release Date: January 8, 2019

Quick Synopsis: Twins Ellery and Ezra move to the small town of Echo Ridge to live with their
grandmother while their semi-famous mother is in rehab. Echo Ridge is semi-famous itself: home of
the Murderland theme park and site of multiple unsolved disappearances. The novel is split between
the perspectives of Ellery, the true-crime buff with a personal connection to one of the missing girls,
and Malcolm, the younger brother of one of the prime suspects.

My Thoughts: I've found with YA thrillers that while the story is more enjoyable than an adult thriller, the endings are often more predictable. That was not the case here. Not only did I enjoy the ride, but the mystery at the book's heart was compelling and I didn't suspect several of the turns that it takes. I preferred this to McManus's first novel, One of Us is Lying, and I think it will appeal to fans of both regular YA fiction and those who prefer mysteries/thrillers. 5/5.

You May Also Like: One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus or The Lying Woods by Ashley Elston

Emma in the Night

Release Date: August 8, 2017

Quick Synopsis: Emma and Cass Tanner have been missing for three years. When Cass shows
up out of the blue with wild stories about a mysterious island, the FBI is stumped. Dr. Abby Winter,
the forensic psychiatrist on the case, knows that Cass isn’t telling the whole story. But, is Abby letting
her own family troubles cloud her judgment? And where is Emma?

My Thoughts: This was a solid psychological drama filled with dysfunctional family dynamics,
unreliable narrators and compelling characters. It wasn’t jaw-dropping, so if you’re picky about
your psychological thrillers, you might be disappointed. However, while the twists weren’t
mind-blowing, I did find myself invested in the story. The book is well-paced, gives you fascinating
and complex characters to root for, and I liked the way it ended. 4/5

You May Also Like: The Last Thing I Told You by Emily Arsenault

Tangerine

Release Date: March 27, 2018

Quick Synopsis: Alice Shipley is living in Tangier with her husband, not exactly enjoying her life there.
When her old college roommate, Lucy Mason, shows up out of the blue, Alice becomes even more
unnerved. They didn't part on great terms after college and now Lucy seems to be stirring up trouble
in Alice's marriage. Why is Lucy in Tangier?

My Thoughts: So, this was not my favorite book. I found the characters somewhat flat and I wasn't super impressed with the mystery at the heart of the story. However, I'm dying for someone else to read it so that we can discuss. In that regard, it's probably a great book club choice - there's a lot to unpack here. One thing the book has going for it is the setting. Mangan's descriptions of Tangier during a time of political turmoil are fascinating and rich and definitely a highlight for me. I also enjoyed the idea of a historical psychological thriller even if it didn't do much for me in practice. 2.5/5

Bonus: Mangan’s debut novel was already optioned for a film which will star Scarlett Johansson.
I think this is another one that will work better on the big screen. I'm willing to give the movie a shot.

Sadie

Release Date: September 4, 2018

Quick Synopsis: When her little sister Mattie is found dead, Sadie leaves town to try and track down
her killer. Meanwhile, West McCray, a radio host who is intrigued by Sadie’s story, starts a podcast to
help figure out what happened and where Sadie might have gone.

My Thoughts: I actually found the podcast setup engaging and funny. Summers managed to parody
real true-crime podcasts, like Serial, while also providing an engaging story with a character
you can really root for. The intentionally cliched podcast provided a lightness which helped to offset
the darker parts of Sadie's story. The book is original and neat and I would definitely recommend. 5/5

Keep an eye out for more book covers that feature girls with no faces. I had a lot of fun going over my shelves once I noticed the pattern!